Pro-family advocates and critics around the world expressed strong opposition this week after news spread that the nation of Brazil would begin a large scale effort to combat the spread of AIDS and STDs through the installation of condom vending machines in hundreds of its schools.

According to Health Minister Jose Gomes Temporao, AIDS is a major problem among Brazilian youth with an alarming 70,000 cases of AIDS reported among Brazilians under 24.

Eduardo Barbosa, head of the National Program for Sexually Transmitted Diseases and AIDS, had explained the new development as one that would be crucial in combating AIDS and STDs. more >>

SAN FRANCISCO — Glide Foundation, a charity that offers food and assistance to low-income residents in San Francisco’s Tenderloin district, was recently informed that it will receive $2.1 million in proceeds from an auction bid for lunch with Warren Buffet.

This is the ninth year that Buffet auctioned a lunch date to benefit Glide. This year's winning bid went to a Chinese hedge fund manager who paid $2,110,100 through an eBay auction that ended June 27. The charity received $650,100 from last year's auction.

Located between Ellis and Taylor, Glide Foundation serves 750,000 meals a year and provides medical services like AIDS testing and job training opportunities to the homeless and other disadvantaged people in San Francisco's Tenderloin district. It is run by Glide Memorial United Methodist Church. more >>

People who live in areas that have a larger number of Catholic and mainline Protestant churches live longer, a new study shows.

Troy C. Blanchard, an associate professor of sociology at Louisiana State University, found that mortality rates were lower in communities with these types of congregations because they have what he calls a "worldly perspective."

"Instead of solely focusing on the afterlife, they place a significant emphasis on the current needs of their communities," offered the study's author. more >>

The Willow Creek Association and World Vision for the second year in a row are inviting churches around the world to enter a contest that will award $100,000 to the church that best demonstrates outstanding involvement and effectiveness in the fight against the AIDS pandemic.

The Courageous Leadership Award will in total honor three churches with the two runner-up churches receiving $40,000 each. In total, $180,000 in award money will be given out by the contest.

"AIDS demands an active response from those who are called to be followers of Jesus Christ," said Bill Hybels, chairman of Willow Creek Associations board and founding pastor of Willow Creek Community Church outside of Chicago, in a statement. more >>

The largest church conference on HIV/AIDS in the United Kingdom was held this past weekend, reaffirming the belief that churches worldwide are joining in the battle against the deadliest epidemic in the history of mankind.

More than 300 delegates gathered at Bracknell Family Church in southeast England to not only be informed on the HIV/AIDS issue and what churches worldwide are doing, but also to discover what they can do to help their own home church respond.

The Positive Church Conference, organized by Tearfund, featured Kay Warren, executive director of the HIV initiative at Saddleback Church in southern California, and David Peck, the Archbishop of Canterburys secretary for international development. more >>

President Bush made the case for his malaria initiative Monday by promoting it as the United States moral duty while visiting Tanzania amid his five-nation Africa tour.

The president, together with first lady Laura Bush, visited a hospital and mosquito net factory, handed out insecticide-treated bed nets, and gave out hugs to grateful Tanzanians on the mission visit meant not only to improve the health of the impoverished continent, but also to preserve Bushs African health initiatives beyond his tenure as president.

"The disease (malaria) keeps sick workers home, schoolyards quiet, communities in mourning," Bush said about the disease which kills 100,000 people a year in Tanzania alone, according to The Associated Press. "The suffering caused by malaria is needless and every death caused by malaria is unacceptable. more >>